Urban Fantasy discussion

This is our group read for December! What do you think of it?

I read this book last week, and I think this is the best Dresden of all. It has so much plot twists and turns.

Read this the day it came out and it is definitly one of the better Dresden books. I got the answer to one of my biggest questions and then Butcher smacked me in the face with a "Oh shit" moment at the end.

I actually ordered the hardback this time. I usually wait for the paperback, but the wait period has become too long. Hopefully I'll be able to start reading this week.

I have not read any of this series. Would you recommend reading them in order or can I just pick up this book and go???

Dana asked...Would you recommend reading them in order or can I just pick up this book and go???

I just finished it and Butcher does a good job of filling in a lot of the past story, but you will be missing a lot of the character growth that Dresden, the protagonist, goes through leading up to this. And, the other books are quite good reading. in the end, it will come down to your personal preference. Do you intend to read any of the others? Can you live with reading them out of sequence? Either way, starting with this or book one, you are in for a good read.

Dana wrote: "I have not read any of this series. Would you recommend reading them in order or can I just pick up this book and go???"

I would start at the beginning, even though the first two aren't that good. Reading them out of order spoils the earlier books too much and this is such a great series that you don't want to miss any.

I talked my husband into reading these and he loves them now, but I had to repeatedly encourage him to keep going while reading the first three. Now he does the same thing to other people. It's hard not to spoil things when he's speculating and making comments, but at least he's only one book behind me now.

Aaaaah so excited! I asked for this for Christmas though so I have to wait :(

Half way thru This book now very much enjoying it.

@Dana - read them in order so you get the ongoing story.

Except according to many, books 1-3 and possibly 4 are more of a slog. The ones I liked best started around 5-7.

I'm halfway through this right now and while I really love it, but... I don't feel like it's the strongest one in the series so far. There's just too many new things being thrown into the story and the side cast is being thrown in far too fast. Don't get me wrong, I've loved the little twists with everything thrown in and I adore all of the characters, but it feels too fast... too forced.

Just finished it. Cracking book. Butcher is remarkably good at this series - I can't think of another writer who has produced so many about the same characters without losing interest, pace or quality.

Just reading some of the other comments I have to say, I didn't have a problem with the earlier books - I've loved them all.

Michelle L. wrote: "This is our group read for December! What do you think of it?"

Great! I am currently reading this book. This series is one of the best in my opinion and also one of my favourites.
Loving it so far. Trying to read it slowly so I don't finish it too quickly, I've been waiting so long for this book to come out, I want to savour every moment :)

I'm desperately hanging on. I've got it but I'm trying to save it for an awful flight back east this week. I was disappointed with Ghost Story so I'm hoping this gets things back on track because this is by far one of my favorite series.

Oh you are far more disciplined than me, both of you. I just downloaded it and whizzed through straight away. I'm hopeless at making myself savour things (now, where's that Christmas present I found...? :))

Have read every book in this series in order. Realized last week I hadn't read the two most recent books in this series. Just finished Ghost Story (my least favorite so far in this series). About halfway through Cold Days.

This book was a huge improvement over Ghost Story, which got too far away from the formula that makes these book so fun (IMHO). Re-read all the Dresden books in about 2 weeks before this came out, they are pretty addicting!

While this one is a bit darker than before, the humor is still there. We learned a lot in this one about what has been going on and many of the seeming random things from previous books now make sense.

Has anyone made a discussion topic for this with spoilers? I would love to discuss some specifics.

Just this minute finished listening to the book - so disappointed to have to wait for the next! Does anyone else do the audiobooks? I read the books as well but if you have any interest - I will say that the dresden series is one of the best combinations of narrator and story I've ever listened to and would highly recommend it.

The book is so rich this time around - so much learned, so much wondered at, I can't [and yet have to] wait for the next one.

I agree that butcher does a really wonderful job keeping the characters and relationships interesting throughout the series - I agree that the first couple were not my faves, and I agree with the recommendation that the books be read in order 150% In fact I too reread the latter half of the series before cracking cold days - really just to add to the savor LOL

Will have to hit the written version now to go back and get another dose of cold days . . .

Does James Marsters narrate 'Cold Days'? I'm reading the book and want to listen to the book also.

yes

YES fabulous as always -

With what happen at the end of the book, you know that the Michael has to come back in the next book.

He has said that at the second signing that he is trying to do two books a year, but he is currently writing a steampunk novel with a cat as one of the book's character.

I knew that Jim Butcher was going to start a new series after the Code Alera series, but steampunk never came to mind.

LOL not to my mind either!

Anybody other than me find it just a bit too unnecessarily convoluted and complex in parts? I found myself skimming paragraphs rather than pouring over each line the way I usually do. I had to stop myself and go back only to find I really missed nothing. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book, but I just found some of it overly rubegoldbergian, if that makes sense. It was by far his best in quite a while though, I'll agree with most on that. And I'm definitely waiting for the the next!!

He was going to write a science fiction book, maybe a space opera.

This is one series that I only read by audio, love James Marsters as the narrator. He really made the first boring ones bearable.

I liked this one, thought it was funny how everyone reacted to Harry.

Is anyone else worried about what happened to Molly and where she goes from here? It seems like she always gets the short end of the stick.

I'm worried for Molly. I've never doubted that Harry will be able keep his good soul in tact. Molly is more delicate when it comes to staying on the path. I can only hope that her situation does not drag her down.

Hmmmm, I guess that Molly is now a fairy with a human godfather.

Just finished, and ended up being surprised by how much I liked it. I thought it was unnecessarily complicated until about 3/4 of the way through when all the threads started coming together...and then my whole head exploded when (view spoiler)[Molly became the Winter Lady (hide spoiler)]. I definitely did some mental apologizing to Butcher for doubting his ability to tie up all the loose ends! I'm super curious about Mac, too...(view spoiler)[is he Grigori? That's what I kept thinking of when they called him a Watcher. (hide spoiler)]

Loved the book! So much better then Ghost story, but I think Changes is still my favorite! Can't wait for the new book to see Molly and Dresdens next meeting and also to see how the discussion goes with Micheal. It is kinda sad that (view spoiler)[ Dresden has now casted himself out onto the island by himself. I do like that he is gonna make a home so that he can be a father to his daughter! Sad about him and Murphy will not be starting a relationship now, but I expected that I guess. Just another tease. Jim is good at that! (hide spoiler)] Come on Fall of 2013. Can't come soon enough!

Paula wrote: "I'm worried for Molly. I've never doubted that Harry will be able keep his good soul in tact. Molly is more delicate when it comes to staying on the path. I can only hope that her situation does ..."


I agree Molly is not as strong as Dresden, but the good news is that she is Free of the White Counsel now, so Woo Hoo for that!

Darcy wrote: "This is one series that I only read by audio, love James Marsters as the narrator. He really made the first boring ones bearable.

I liked this one, thought it was funny how everyone reacted to Ha..."

James Marsters is the best reader ever! He is my favorite and I listen to alot of books! Is is me or did he take it up a notch this book. This book just seemed to be one of his best reads, but that could be b/c of all the dialog with Thomas and his accent! LOVED THIS BOOK. And yes I am worried for Molly too. This can't possibly end well for her, but (view spoiler)[ Dresden is stuck in the court as well, so if he can get out, which with Dresden anything is possible, maybe there is hope for Molly also, but I can't see anyway out right now. There is good news though, Molly and Harry are on the same playing field; Winter court, so they can help each other out. Who knows maybe those two will eventually get together, but likely not! Hope to see Murphy and Harry have their time, but Jim Butcher teased us again. He is good at that! (hide spoiler)]

Nemo wrote: "Anybody other than me find it just a bit too unnecessarily convoluted and complex in parts? I found myself skimming paragraphs rather than pouring over each line the way I usually do. I had to stop..."

I felt like that when reading Ghost Story, so I understand. I did not feel it while reading this one though. I gotta say my Favorite Dresden book is still "Changes" and that will not likely change anytime soon. That book ROCKED! ! !

Paula wrote: "I knew that Jim Butcher was going to start a new series after the Code Alera series, but steampunk never came to mind."

HOw did you like the Codex Alera series. I have them, but everytime I start book one I can't seem to get past the first chapter. Does it get better? Is is worth the read?

Donna, I haven't read the Codex Alera series. I know many people who are fans (mostly males). When I found out the series was military based, I lost interest. Unfair, I know, but that was my reaction. The fact that you can't make it past the 1st chapter makes me feel better. I just knew that Butcher was going to start a new series after Codex Alera.

I read the Codex Alera series before the Dresden Files. I came to UF through Epic Fantasy, though, so was interested in the Codex Alera first. I liked them a lot and read them all in under a week.

I really liked the Codex Alera books more so then Dreseden but I read alot of Fantasy and I read them before I read the Dresden books

I did not enjoy Codex Alera because the series is fill with tropes.

Kevin wrote: "With what happen at the end of the book, you know that the Michael has to come back in the next book."

I think more likely is his son. At least with the sword.